Bag filling machine



2,859,574 Patented Nov. 11,

BAG'FILLING MACHINE Ralph K. Olivette, Bakersfield, Califi, assignor to Ames Harris Neville Co., San Francisco, Caliii, a corporation of California Application October 12, 1954, Serial No. 461,821

2 Claims. (Cl. 53-261) This invention relates to a new and improved bag filling machine. At the present time, one type of bag in which produce and the like is packaged is a relatively small bag of fragile nature particularly when the bag is provided with a transparent window through which the consumer can observe the contents.- In order to protect such bags against breakage and also to minimizev the amount of handling which is required, aplurality of smaller bags is enclosed in a larger bag. Accordingly it is the principal object of this invention to provide a machine for loading the smaller bags into the larger one with a minimum of labor and effort.

The present invention, therefore, provides a support on which the larger bag may be positioned for convenient loading. The support is inclined at an angle so that the smaller bags can be deposited at the open mouth of the larger bag and allowed to slide by. gravity into the larger bag. At the same time, after the larger bag is completely filled, the entire load may be allowed to move off the support by gravity.

Another feature of the invention is-the prow'sion of a gate or stop at the lower end of the inclined support which retains the larger bag in position until it is fully loaded. The gate is retractable so that, when the bag is loaded, the stop can be withdrawn and the load permitted to slide off the support.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of tensioning means at the top of the support which hold the bag open to facilitate entrance of the smaller bags.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of linkage, hereinafter described in greater detail, for simul taneous release of the mouth tensioning means and retraction of the stop gate.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of a latch which holds the linkages in position until released with the tensioning means relaxed and the stop gate open.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine partially broken away in section to show the interior of the large bag.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the structure of Fig. 1 with the bags removed.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the actuating means for the bag tensioner or spreader.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the latch mechanism.

The present machine comprises a frame 11 having front legs 12 on either side of the machine and rear legs 13 on either side of the machine, the rear legs being considerably shorter than the front legs. Mounted on the legs in rearwardly inclined position is the inclined bag support 14 which extends across the width of the machine. The bag support 14 is reinforced by inclined longitudinal side members 16 and horizontal transverse membersl 17.

The frame is further reinforced by cross braces 18bittending diagonally from opposite corners of the. front legs. Longitudinally extending bottom members 19,,provide additional bracing for the bottoms of the legs {12 and 13. The longitudinal bottom members 19 extendfnrwardly and rearwardly of the front and rear'l egs 1 6+ spectivelyto give additional: support and stabilitytotbe machine. Transverse bottom leg members21'furtlier brace the machine.

On the lower end of the inclined bag s upport14 is a bottom stop gate 22 extending across the width of the machine and joined to the inclined support by a piano type hinge 23.

On the front of the machine is a horizontal table 26 extending across the width ofthe'machine which is supported by brackets 27 from the frontlegs 1 2. I

Atthe top of the inclined bagsupp'ort 14 on one side of the machine is. a stationary spreader 31 and earns opposite side is moveable-spreader 32 Spreadersf31 and 32 are arcuate'in cross section as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and theirtop and'bottorn edges-are reinforced by folding over the; rims 33. An inclined skid 34 is spaced slightly above but parallel to the inclined bag support 14 at the upper end-thereof and constitutes an extension of the table 26'. Suflici'ent room'is provided insertion of a bag as hereinafter described. I

The actuation of the gate 22 andmoveable spreader 32 is accomplished by manual depression of a foot pedal 36 at one end of a pedal arm 37, the opposite end of which is pivotedto a bracket38 mounted at the bottbm end of one of the front legs 12; The pedal arm' 37' ex: tends transversely across the machine. The front leg 12 opposite the leg on which the bracket 38 is mounted is provided with a latch 39 of triangular shape as best show in Fig. 6 so positioned that when the pedal arm 37 is under the latch 39 it is restrained against vertically upward movement. However, when the operator moves the pedal arm 37 rearwardly out of contact with the latch 39, the pedal arm can pivot upwardly .from the dotted position shown in Fig. 3 to the full line position. An extended vertical link 41 is connected at its lower end to approximately the mid-point of the pedal arm 37. The upper link 41 is connected to one of the arms of bell crank 42, which bell crank is pivotally mounted on bell crank support 43 attached to one of the front legs 12. Pivot 44 connects link 41 to hell crank 42 and pivot 46 between the skid 34 and the inclined support 14, for the mounts the bell crank 42 on the support 43. Finger 47 is formed on the outer end of the opposite arm of the bell crank. This finger is so positioned and arranged as to engage and ,force inwardly the outer end of threaded rod 48. The inner end of threaded rod 48 is received in the outer end of plunger 49 which extends partially inside horizontally positioned piston 51 fixed to the frame 11. Inside piston 51 is a spring 52 which biases rod 48 outwardly. An apertured extension 53 of the moveable spreader 32 receives rod 48, nuts 54 locating extension 53. As is best shown in Fig. 4, by moving nuts 54 to the left or the right along the threaded rod 48 the position of moveable spreader 32 relative to stationary spreader 31 may be adjusted. Such adjustment is useful when different widths of bags are to be loaded.

Movement of foot pedal 36 likewise opens the bottom tail gate 22. mounted on frame 11 by means of pivot 57. S hook 59 connects an extension 58 of link 56 to the upper end For such purpose, link 56 is pivotally off vertical link 41. Extended longitudinally downwardly inclined link 61 is connected by pivot 62 to the link 56.

7 61 is movedupwardly and toward the right as viewed in Fig. -1. Such movement is transmitted to the actuator 63 causing the gate 22 to open by its pivotal movement around hinge 23. Upon release of pedal 36, spring 64 restores'gate22 to closed position and maintains it in such position against the weight of" the bag and contents on the chute 14.

J Operation In operation, with the pedal 36 depressed and latched under latch 39, the spreaders 31 and 32 are in retracted position. The large bag 66 is then placed on the inclined support 14 with its mouth uppermost and extending under the skid 34 and outside the spreaders 31 and 32. When the. bag is installed in proper position, the operator releases the pedal 36 which causes the spreader 32 to move away from the spreader 31 thereby tensioning the mouth of thebag 66 open. Simultaneously, the gate 22 closes thereby supporting the bottom end of the bag 66 and preventing it from sliding ofi the support 14. Small bags 67 are placedon the table 26 and inserted one by one through the gap between the spreaders 31 and 32, the bags 67 sliding by gravity as far as possible inside the bag 66. When the-bag 66 is completely filled, the operator depresses the pedal 36 and latches the same under latch 39. This causes the spreader 32 to move inwardly, releasing the tensioning on the bag mouth and simultaneously opens the gate 22 allowing the bag 66 and enclosed bags 67 to slide 01f the support 14. The machine is then in position for loading of the next bag.

Althoughthe foregoing invention has been described by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims,

I claim:

I. A bag filling machine comprising an inclined support, means maintaining said support in inclined position, a first spreader located on one side of said support, a second spreader located on the opposite side of said support, said spreaders being vertically upstanding and lo cated adjacent the upper end of the support, at least one of said spreaders being laterally adjustably movable relative to the other to accommodate bags of difierent width, and operating means for moving at least one spreader toward or away from the other in a horizontal path to spread open a bag held on said support, a stop gate adjacent the lower end of said support, means for retracting said stop gate, and means connecting-said operating means and said means for retracting said stop gate to move said spreaders toward each other to release a bag and retract said stop gate simultaneously and to move said spreaders apart and position said stop gate in operative position simultaneously.

2. A bag filling machine according to claim 1 which further contains latch means selectively operable to secure said spreaders in retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,705 Shaner Jan. 29, 1901 808,355 Ellison Dec. 26, 1905 1,611,268 Colby Dec. 21, 1926 1,650,447 Heyer Nov. 22, 1927 2,156,224 Neuman et a1 Apr. 25, 1939 2,402,869 Buchanan et a1 Jan. 25, 1946 2,596,768 Ernst May 13, 1952 2,643,842 Disersens June 30, 1953 2,668,648 Carlsen Feb. 9, 1954 

